Song of the Day: HAERTS – Wings

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s selection, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “Wings” by HAERTS, an early single from their forthcoming collection of songs due out later this year.

“Wings” has been making serious waves on the New York scene, and now Seattleites can find out why. HAERTS is a band from New York hailing from Germany, England, and the United States. The group consists of Nini Fabi, Ben Gebert, Garrett Ienner, Derek McWilliams, and Jonathan Schmidt. Jean-Philip Grobler (aka St. Lucia) provides production on “Wings” to help add the 80s stratosphere you hear accompanying Fabi’s haunting Stevie Nicks-like vocals. There really isn’t all that much more to say about them currently. They are playing occasional shows around New York, but you won’t see them out here for a while. They haven’t announced any sort of EP or LP being released any time soon. But if HAERTS plans to make more ridiculously good pop music like “Wings” in the future, I’m positive that you’ll be hearing the name a lot this year.

As a one-off release, “Wings” is about as flawless as pop tunes come. The rhythm groove comes right off the top of 80s charts. It’s development is built like magic and the balance between control and 80s reverb overload (those synthesized strings and choral voices in the background could seriously go on forever) is as polished as can be. But the real magic is how and where Nini’s vocals cut straight to your soul. If the verse wasn’t gorgeous enough, her doubled harmony on the chorus has all of the power and conviction of all the best anthem tunes of the new wave decade (Simple Minds fans out there will love this). There’s just really no way to complain about this track.

Here’s hoping that “Wings” is followed up with some equally phenomenal material! Apparently, HAERTS’ debut album is due sometime this year. Follow them on Facebook to keep up with future news and watch the video below.